About

Loosely inspired by the stories featured in One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of folktales from the Middle Eastern and South Asia first published in the eighteenth century, director Miguel Gomes has crafted an ambitious trilogy of films exploring the economic crisis affecting contemporary Portugal and Western Europe. Told through the structure of the original tale, of stories-within-stories, Gomes worked with journalists to collect and adapt stories from the region to offer an unconventional blend of documentary and fantasy. The three parts Arabian Nights: Volume 1 - The Restless One (2015), Arabian Nights: Volume 2 - The Desolate One (2015) and Arabian Nights: Volume 3 - The Enchanted One (2015), combine magic and realism, telling dreamy tales of talking roosters and trapped mermaids, serial killers who become outlaw heroes and dedicated ornithologist who teach their feathered friends new songs. Featuring humour and tragedy, the epic trilogy is a love poem to a country in turmoil.